Plate-feeding mechanism for addressing-machines.



G. OWENS & A. LYLE. PLATE FEEDING mnommsm ron ADDRESSING momma.

I APPLIUA TIOIi IILE'D OUT. 19, 1907. 947,398, Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

I0 nnmnnur lllllllllm llllllllll ||||mm|m|||||||mm l0 J M a I ll lZ kmmnlm.

c. OWENS & A. LYLE. PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOB. ADDRESSING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19, 1907. 947,39 PatentedJan. 25, 1910.

manna-sunni- 2.

.lli

:rif

plates or stencils which are fed to a carrier rm) STATES rarnn'r OFFICE CHLK'RLES O'WENS AND ALEXANDER LYLE, 0F CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOHS TO MONTAGUE MAILING MACHINERY (30., A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

. HDATE-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ADDRESSING-'MACH'INES.

To all whom it may concern:

Bait known that we, -CHARLES Owens and ALEXANDER Lynn, citizens of the United States, residing at Chattanooga,.Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Plate-Feeding Mechanism for Addressing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to addressing machines wherein is used a series of printing or drum to be conveyed thereby to the im- 'pression platen to be there imposed on the magazines or'other package for applying the address thereto.

'llheinvention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the mechanism embodying the invention, this view showing the printing plate or stencil feeding mechanism during the operation of feeding a printing plate from beneath a pile of plates in the hopper to the carrier or drum of the addressing machine. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view of a detail.

In these drawings 1 indicates a hopper arranged over the drum or carrier 10 of the addressing machine in position to supply the printing plates thereto by gravity. To this hopper frame are pivoted arms 2 constituting the plate holding and separating devices, these arms having notches as at 2 at their lower ends to engage the edges of the printing plates.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 19, 1907. Serial No. 398,257.

3 indicates a pressure cam there being preferably two of these one at each end or side of the hopper as shown in Fig. 3. These cams are designed to press down or start the printing plate into connection with the drum or' carrier 10 and more definitely. speaking, into the recessed portlons 10 of said carrier or drum, and they act also to hold the'plate within these recessed portions. These camsare pivoted at t to the supporting and plate holding arms 2. They Patented J an. 25, 1910.

tion. one of these springs is shown in -F 2 but omitted from Fig. 3. Attached to the plate holding and supporting arms 2 are levers or arms 7.

In connection with the drum -or carrier, gripper means for the printing plates are employed, these being substantially similar to the gripping mechanism disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to Charles Owens and Alexander Lyle #889,328, June 2, 1908. Upon this gripper device shown generally-M8 is mounted a roll 9. Arms 12 are pivoted at 13 to the (hopper frame carrying at their lower ends a roll 14. The pile of printing plates within .the hopper is indicated at 11 the rear portion of this pile resting upon a stop 15.

The plate holding arms 2 having the notches in their lower ends are arranged so that these notches are at such a distance from the drum when the raised or beaded portion 10 of the drum is beneath the hopper or the pile of plates therein, that these notches engage the first plate above the bottom plate leaving the advanced edge of the said bottom plate lying loosely on 'the raised or beaded portion of the drum 10. This raised or beaded portion is the same as that disclosed in the application above referred to these beads on the drum fitting closely beneath the hopper sustaining the lowermost printing plates of the pile until the recessed portion as 10 10 comes around beneath the hopper. When the raised or beaded portion of the drum is in action beneath the hopper the cams 3 are held away from the pile of plates by these raised or beaded portions of the drum or carrier which act as a track or camway for the said cams. As the drum advances and the recessed portions 10 10 come beneath the pile of plates the advanced edge of the bottom plates drops into the forward recess 10, and at the same time in view of the formation of this recess the cams 2-) swing downwardly over the top of the edge of the bottom plate as shown in Fig. 1 and between it and the pile of printing plates above, the rest of the pile being susare pressed by springs 5 into working position thatis, in a direction toward the hopper. The plate holding and supporting arms 2 are pressed by springs 6 into normal posit l l tained by the plate holding and supporting arms 2 at the front pile, the rear edge of the lowermost plate being held up with the rest of the pile by means of the stop or support 15, as shown in Fig. 1. As-the drum'orncarrier continues its rotary motion the cams 3 follow this movement with. the plate and drum against the tension of the springs 5 until a point is reached where the cams begin to clearthe printing plate when said plate passes beneath the cams under pressure and until the forward edge of the plate is engaged by the roller 14. At this moment the gripper devices are caused to travel across the face of the drum and engage the printing platel The lowermost plate of the pile having now been placed upon the drum it will be understood that the pile of plates is supported by the stop'15 in the bottom of the hopper l and the plate holding and supporting device 2 which withtheir notches engage the lowermost plate. As soon, however, as the drum advances far enough for the roller 9 to strike the lever 7 the forward edge of the pile of plates is released by the devices 2'and allowed to drop down upon the raised portion or bead 10 of the drum and as soon as the 1evcr'7'is released from the roller 9 by the onward movement of the drum these plate holding or supporting arms fly back into'normal positionvunder the action of their springs 6 and they engage the forvard edge of the plate next above the bottom plate thus separating the forward edge of the bottom plate from the pile above ready to be fed when the next recessed portion 10 of the drum comes into proper posilow up this forward movement-of the drum and further that these cams or presscrs by riding over the plate which had just been taken from the pile will seat the same firmly in the recesses of the drum and this action will be aided by the action of the roller it until the gripping of the plate is fully arcompl-ished, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that there is a recess 10 to receive each thickened edge of the printing plate and the portions of the drum between these recesses being raised relative thereto Furnish a raised or backing-surface upon which the body of the plate may rest to be supported thereby when this plate is imposed upon the magazine to apply the address thereto. The recess'es 10 provide in effect, shoulders or proi jections-adapted to engage orgrip the inner edges of the thickened margins of the printing plates .80 that when the forward edge of a printing plate drops down as shown in Fig. 1 it is gripped the shoulder formed by the recess and the continued movement of the drum will cause this shoulder actlng on the thickened margin, to draw the printing plate from beneath the pile and off from the supporting ledge 15. This action is, of course, aided bythe presser 3. Thedrum is representative of any suitable feeding element or carrier for the plates.

It-will be observed that in the operationof our machine comparatively stiff plates are employed having type surfaces thereon; These plates are not dragged from the bottom of the pile, but are separated at their front edges from the bottom of the pile to drop down so that the type face of'the plate which is dropped will be entirely clear of the plate next above it, and not until then is the low-- ermost plate moved forward by the carrier from the hopper. In this way the plates are not damaged, and their type surfaces are not subjected to undue wear in the feeding action.

iVe claim as our invention: 1. In combination in an addressing ma chine in which flanged printing plates are employed, a hopper and a feeding member late-said feed member havm means thereon to engage the printing plates when its front edge hasdropped and by the move ment of said feed member to draw the feed plate from the hopper.

thereon, a hopper, printing plates having a' shoulder or rib on their lower side to be engaged by theshouldcr or pro ec t1on on the 5. In c .anbination in an addressing machine, a carrier having a shoulder or recess having a plurality of recesses in its surface carrier. means for separating the printing" plates. one by one from the pile for deliver-.

ing the forward ei'lge of said separate plate on to the carrier or drum to be engaged by the shoulder thereof. \vherr v the said printing plates will be drawn iron! beneath the pile, substantially as describcd. A k

4-. In con'il'nnation in an addressing ma chine, a rotary drum, a hopper having a.

ledge 01' support for the rear. portions of the printing plates and having a .movable separating arm or arms to engage the front ed gcs of the n'inti-ng plates, means for oper, atmg-the said arm or arms to allow the low ermost plate to drop down at its front edge 1 and recesses or shoulders on the drum for receiving the front edge of the separated plate, substantially as described.

5. In combination a rotarydrum having recesses and shoulders to receive the printing plates with the shoulders engaging therewith, a hopper for the printing plates, a separating arm or arms to separate the printing plates one by onefrom the pile to allow it to drop onto the drum and apresserdevice to engage the front edge of the printing plate, to press it into engagement with the drum or carrier, said presser device bein supported independently of the drum and eing movable to follow up the movement of the carrier and a s ring for applying tension to said presser device, to draw it back after the drum has carried a printing plate beneath it, substantially as described.

6. In combination,-a rotary drum having a pair of recesses for each printing plate to receive the thickened edges of said plate v and having a portion between the recesses to furnish a backing for the type bearing portion of the printing plate, and means for delivering the printing plates from'the hopper to the said recesses, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a rotary drum of an addressing machine, a hopper for the printing plates, said drum having a shoulder and recess, and means for controlling the feed of the printing plates from the hopper to the rotary drum, said means causing the front edge of the printing plate to drop into the recess of the drum and to be engaged by the shoulder thereof whereby the -prlnting plate is withdrawn from beneath the pile, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a rotary drum, a hopper, a separating arm to engage the front edges of the rinting plates, presser cams to press on t e printing plates, the said drum being recessed and the said cams being adapted to enter said recesses, 'and means for operating'the se arating arm from the movement of the. rum, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a drum having recesses to receive the printing plates, a

bhopper, a separating arm, a presser to en- 'ter'the recesses, means for operating the separating arm from the movement of the drum and a presser roller to press the printing plate on to the drum, substantially as described.

10. In combination, a drum, a hopper for the printingplates, said drum having recesses to receive the front and rear edges of the printing plates and means for separating tthe front portions of the printing plates from the pile to allow themto drop down first at theinfront edges to be engaged by the drum and drawn by the movement the printing plates thereof, from beneath the pile, so that their rear ed es will then engage the recesses substantial ly as described.

11. In combination in a feeding apparatus for printing plates, a carrier a hopper for holding the printing plates inde endent of the carrier and means indepen ent of the carrier for permitting the prmting plates to drop down bodily at their front ed es to assume an inclined position from e to edge, said carrier engaging the front ower edge of the printing plate in its dropped down position, said printing plate being withdrawn from beneath the pile b the onward movement of the carrier, the ropping down action of the printing plate taking place before the carrier arrives in position to move the plate substantially as described.

12. In combination, means for holding the printing plates, a carrier upon which the printing plates are delivered, and means for pressing the printing plates on the carrier at the point of delivery thereto to assist in placing said plates, said means being sup ported independently of the carrier, substantially as described.

13. In combination, means for. holding the printing plates, a carrier u on which the printing plates are delivere and a device for pressing the printin plates upon the carrier at the point of ehvery thereto to assist in placing said plates and following up the movement thereof, said device being supported independently of the carrier, substantially as described.

1 1. In combination with a hop er, printing plates having depressed laterally extending edges, a carrier movable beneath the hopper and havin recesses to receive the depressed edges of the printing lates and means for releasin the forwar edges of from the hopper whereby said edges will be first deposited u on the carrier and in the'recess thereof, sai plates being drawn from the hopper by the onward movement of the carrier.

15. In combination with a carrier having recesses therein, printing plates having edges extending laterally from the main part of the plate and depressed in relation to the surface thereof and forming a continuation of said main part, said ed es bein adapted to enter said recesses, su stantial y as de scribed.

16. In combination, a hopper for the printing plates, which plates consist of sheet material. having its side portions extending downwardly and then'ce outwardly, forming marginal continuations out beyond and depressed in relation to the main part of the plates, and a carrier having a plain surface with recesses therein to receive the said deing plates, each having its two outer edges In testimony whereof We afiix our signadepressed, and a carrier having recesses tor tures in presence of two Witnesses. receiving the depressed edges of the print- CHARLES CVVENS.

ing plates, there being two such recesses for ALEXANDER LYLE. each printing plate and said recesses extendlVitnesses:

- ing parallel with and separate from each C. C. PARIS,

other, substantially as described. E ALBERT LAZARD. 

